Sound The Trumpet : The Islamic Antichrist

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“The Islamic Antichrist”
by Art Sadlier
March 8th, 2010

A new book claims that the Antichrist will be an Islamic leader, he will be a man known to Islam as the Mahdi. The author, further claims that the Empire of Antichrist will be made up of those Islamic nations that now surround Israel.

I do not in any way seek discredit the genuineness of this man’s faith in Christ, nor to deny his zeal for the Lord. I do want to draw attention to his wrong interpretation. The author is not a premillenialist, he does not believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. One of the main purposes of the book, he says, is to prepare living believers to be ready for the tribulation and to recognize the signs and events as they take place. This fails to warn men and women of the danger of entering the Day of the Lord, it is a serious deception.

The author uses the events and situations developing in the Muslim world and fits scripture around it. The right approach is to start with what the Bible teaches and relate events and circumstances to it. It is never hard to start with an idea and to mould scripture around your idea, it has been done times without number. When Russia and Communism appeared about to dominate the world, there were those who erroneously sought to interpret prophecy in the light of that situation.

The author in his zeal to support his thesis of a Muslim Empire for the Kingdom of Antichrist eliminates Russia from Ezekiel 38-39. He claims that the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 are the Empire of Antichrist, who he says is the Mahdi. The fact is that the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 are nations which come against Israel early in the tribulation period, seeking to annihilate Israel. The scripture clearly teaches that these nations are not an Empire but an alliance of nations which are totally destroyed early in the tribulation period, and consequently play no major part in the remainder of the tribulation period. We are clearly told that five of every six members of these armies are killed by God with fire from heaven. We are also told that in the homelands of these people five of six are also killed, with the result that Islam and Russia are no more a factor, even as the tribulation period begins. See Ezekiel 39: 2-6.

This destruction of Islam and Russia will take place early in the tribulation period after the peace treaty has been signed, (Ezekiel 38:8, 11). Daniel tells us that the signing of this peace treaty will begin the Tribulation period, Daniel 9:27. Paul tells us that the time of peace will be short lived, 1 Thess.5:3. The only conclusion is that the war of Ezekiel 38-39 will be very early in the tribulation period. The burning of the weapons for seven years is also an indication that the war will take place early in the tribulation period, 1 Thess. 5:3.

There are many parallels between the Biblical end time teaching and the end time teachings of Islam. In Biblical eschatology we have the Antichrist who has a parallel in Islamic eschatology, a man who is called the Mahdi. To both of these men there is ascribed a World Wide Kingdom and both have powerful armies. They each have an assistant. Antichrist has the False Prophet, while the Mahdi has the Muslim Jesus. The parallels between these two characters are many.

The Bible teaches that Antichrist will arise out of the Revived Roman Empire, and after three and a half years he will rule the entire world. Islam teaches that the Mahdi will suddenly come upon the scene and conquer the world for Islam. The author of this new book claims that the Mahdi’s Empire will be a successor of the Old Ottoman Empire.

We know that the Bible is the only source of truth in this whole matter. We know that Satan is great imitator and a great deceiver. Why is Satan trying to deceive in this matter and who is he trying to deceive? I published an article several years ago, in which I listed some of these parallels. At that time I stated that the purpose of Satan in this whole deception is to deceive Islam into believing that the Antichrist is the Mahdi. This deception will enable Satan’s man, Antichrist to sign the Peace Treaty with Israel, Islam and the nations of the world.

Satan’ plan requires the Temple to be rebuilt and the worship system of Israel to be in operation. Satan desires not only to be worshipped by the world, but he desires to be worshipped in the very place that God has been worshipped in the past, (2 Thess.2:4). After placing such hatred in Islam for the Jew, Satan has to deceive Islam into allowing the Temple to be built on the Temple Mount which Islam claims as its’ own. Islam will be deceived, at least for a short time, and then they will respond with the war of Ezekiel 38-39. At that time God will destroy both Islam and Russia. Russia will be destroyed because of her atheism and antagonism to the Jew. Islam will be destroyed because of their idolatry and persecution of Israel.

Assuming America has already been neutralized at this time, (America has no role to play in end time events, and because of her present power and influence must be neutralized, we are seeing that about to happen) that leaves the Roman Prince of the Revived Roman Empire (The Antichrist) as the only power left standing at this point, after the war of Ezekiel 38-39. Antichrist and his kingdom will then be consolidated and at the Mid-Tribulation point and he will proceed to dominate the whole world, see Revelation 13:7.

The coming of Christ to take His Church home is an imminent event, any teaching that clouds this promise is a contradiction of God’s Word. There has been a steady stream of attacks on the pre-tribulation rapture. Satan does not want men and women to be aware of the imminence of the rapture. He doesn’t want God’s people to get excited about proclaiming the gospel, with the urgency of the rapture on their hearts.

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”.....”Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Mathew 24: 44, 46.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13